Virtanen left Tuesday’s practice with back spasms; questionable for Wednesday’s season opener.

With Virtanen leaving practice on Tuesday, Brendan Leipsic played in his spot on the power-play and Tyler Motte drew in on the third line. The former No.6 overall pick is questionable for tomorrow’s game vs. the Flames, but doesn’t carry a lot of fantasy upside thanks to a limited offensive role in the Canucks’ lineup.

Virtanen will come out of the Canucks lineup on Saturday.

The Canucks have sent Jake Virtanen to Utica (AHL).

Virtanen was a healthy scratch for the last two games and will return to Utica, where he has no points in two games. The former No.6 overall pick (2014) has struggled in the first 65 games of his NHL career—collecting just 14 points (7G / 7A). Expect Virtanen to stay in Utica until his game gets back on track.

Virtanen will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game.

Virtanen was a healthy scratch on Monday and will be scratched again tonight in New York. The former sixth overall pick has collected just one assist while averaging 10:09 TOI in the first 10 games of the season. With Virtanen sitting and Jannik Hansen injured, Alex Burrows will again skate in the top-6.

The Canucks have loaned Jake Virtanen to Canada's World Junior team.

Virtanen suffered an upper-body injury on Monday; not expected to play on Tuesday.

Virtanen played just 1:45 before heading to the dressing room with an upper-body injury. The Canucks will play the second game of the back-to-back tonight, so Virtanen isn’t expected to play, despite his injury being called “minor.” Expect Sven Baertschi to be back in the lineup with Virtanen out.

Virtanen will make his NHL debut on Tuesday vs. the Kings.

Virtanen was the sixth overall pick in 2014 and after sitting in the first two games, he will draw into the lineup tonight vs. Los Angeles. Virtanen had 52 points (21G / 31A) in 52 games with the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) last season.